Negotiations between Manchester City and West Ham for a potential move for Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta are all but over after the 25-year-old has found himself the subject of a betting investigation conducted by FIFA and the FA.
Lucas Paqueta Move to Manchester City ‘On the Verge of Collapsing’
Deal ‘On Hold’
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, the deal between the English champions and the Hammers for Paqueta was progressing well, however, with the player now the center of a betting investigation, the proposed move is now “99% collapsed”.
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Sky Sports are reporting however that the move is not yet dead and if the investigation can be concluded quickly and all charges dropped, then Pep Guardiola’s side may well reignite their interest in the creative midfielder.
Nature of the Investigation
The investigation into Paqueta revolves around the midfielder getting booked in matches for both club and country, with suspicious bets being placed on each occasion. All suspicious betting at this stage is said to have taken place in Brazil. The player himself is said to be shocked by the reports and in the meantime he is focussing on playing football.
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New Bid for Lucas Paqueta was ‘Imminent’ From the Citizens
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, a bid in the region of £85 million was being prepared by the Citizens. With the long-term injury to key creator Kevin De Bruyne, Pep Guardiola may well find himself slightly short of numbers in midfield.
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Any further injuries to key midfielders could leave the English champions exposed as they look to become the first-ever club to win the Premier League on four successive occasions. Paqueta would not only provide strength in depth but also real ability with the Brazilian star being the Irons’ stand-out attacker last season.
Impact on West Ham’s Current Incomings
West Ham have retained an interest in Ajax attacking midfielder Mohamed Kudus all summer and according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, any deal for the player is unrelated to offloading Paqueta with terms for the Ghanaian advancing quickly.
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